Celtics ready as free-agent market opens Saturday

Thursday

Jun 29, 2017 at 5:54 PMJun 30, 2017 at 12:17 AM

Jim Fenton The Enterprise @JFenton_ent

They ended a drought in NBA free agency last summer with the signing of a marquee player in Al Horford.That move, which was pulled off with a four-year, $113 million contract, helped the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference finals last season.

One year later, the Celtics are going shopping again, looking to land another big-name player with an even bigger contract.

This time, the prize is 27-year-old Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward, who averaged 21.9 points on 47 percent shooting this past season.

The free-agent market opens at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, and the Celtics are expected to be in competition with the Jazz and the Miami Heat for Hayward’s services.

The Celtics tried to get Kevin Durant to join Horford a year ago, sending a contingent that included Tom Brady to the Hamptons to make a pitch. But Durant decided to join the Golden State Warriors and won a championship.

Now, the Celtics are reportedly looking to sign Hayward to a four-year, $131 million contract, then pursue Paul George, who is being traded by the Indiana Pacers.

For the second consecutive year, the Celtics have salary cap space to go after an All-Star player, and they have a chance to upgrade a team that won 53 games.

Hayward, who played two seasons for Celtics coach Brad Stevens at Butler before getting drafted No. 9 by the Jazz in 2010, appears to be the top choice.

The name of Blake Griffin, who opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers, has also been connected with the Celtics. Griffin is reportedly meeting with the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who could have three first-round picks in each of the next two drafts, is sitting in a good spot as he tries to lure a free agent like Hayward.

“I’m confident,’’ said Ainge of free agency, “but there’s no guarantees ever. It’s like playing poker with guys and you don’t know what’s in the other hand.

“We feel like we have some opportunities this summer.’’

Hayward is expected to meet with Pat Riley and the Heat on Saturday and the Jazz on Monday in addition to the Celtics at some point.

Utah can offer Hayward a five-year, $177 million contract since the Jazz had him on the roster the past season. No deals can be signed until July 6.

Making things interesting in the free-agent pursuit for the Celtics is the possibility of acquiring George.

With his contract running out in 2018, George has made it known he won’t be re-signing with the Pacers, who are now trying to get something for him on the trade market.

The Celtics are an interested bidder, but with George saying he’d like to go home and play for the Los Angeles Lakers, they won’t go overboard with a price to land the All-Star for what could be just one season.

The Boston Herald is reporting the Pacers have asked the Celtics for what could be two lottery picks in 2018 and starting players for George.

Signing Hayward and getting George to go with Isaiah Thomas and Horford would provide the Celtics with a talented foursome, but current players would have to be moved to make everything fit.

The NBA’s projected salary cap of $101 million looks like it will be more like $99 million when it is announced next week, meaning teams like the Celtics won’t have as much to spend under the cap.

“That hurt a little bit, a little sting,’’ said Ainge. “But we’ve been preparing for a long time. It makes it a little more challenging.

“We’ll be able to fit it in. We’re in foul trouble right now, but we’ll be back in the second half.

“That changes some things. We’ll have some tough choices to make. We knew that was a possibility. We were hoping it wasn’t.’’

The week ahead promises to be very interesting as the Celtics seek a major piece in the free-agent market for a second year in a row.